Photo: RNZ/Cole Eastham-FarrellyA research project has discovered a way to use sound as a harmless deterrent to keep cats away from nesting native birds. Feral cats were recently added to the Predator Free 2050 target species list, but domestic cats remain a treasured part of many New Zealand households. Through trial and error, they found feral cats were most averse to the sound of human voices and domestic cats were most averse to the sound of other cats. By contrast, testing in urban environments showed domestic cats were most averse to the sound of other cats and didn't mind human voices. The next step for the researchers was to try to protect colony breeding birds near braided rivers from feral cats and they also worked with Auckland Council to put out speakers in another reserve.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 21, 2025 04:55 UTC